riders of the purple sage-第61节

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ack　Star！。。。Wrangle　never　beat　him！〃

〃I'm　wondering　if　I　didn't　dream　that。　Bess；　the　blacks　are　grand。　What　it　must　have　cost　Janeah！well；　when　we　get　out　of　this　wild　country　with　Star　and　Night；　back　to　my　old　home　in　Illinois；　we'll　buy　a　beautiful　farm　with　meadows　and　springs　and　cool　shade。　There　we'll　turn　the　horses　freefree　to　roam　and　browse　and　drinknever　to　feel　a　spur　againnever　to　be　ridden！〃

〃I　would　like　that；〃　said　Bess。

They　rested。　Then；　mounting；　they　rode　side　by　side　up　the　white　trail。　The　sun　rose　higher　behind　them。　Far　to　the　left　a　low　fine　of　green　marked　the　site　of　Cottonwoods。　Venters　looked　once　and　looked　no　more。　Bess　gazed　only　straight　ahead。　They　put　the　blacks　to　the　long；　swinging　rider's　canter；　and　at　times　pulled　them　to　a　trot；　and　occasionally　to　a　walk。　The　hours　passed；　the　miles　slipped　behind；　and　the　wall　of　rock　loomed　in　the　fore。　The　Notch　opened　wide。　It　was　a　rugged；　stony　pass；　but　with　level　and　open　trail；　and　Venters　and　Bess　ran　the　blacks　through　it。　An　old　trail　led　off　to　the　right；　taking　the　line　of　the　wall；　and　his　Venters　knew　to　be　the　trail　mentioned　by　Lassiter。

The　little　hamlet；　Glaze；　a　white　and　green　patch　in　the　vast　waste　of　purple；　lay　miles　down　a　slope　much　like　the　Cottonwoods　slope；　only　this　descended　to　the　west。　And　miles　farther　west　a　faint　green　spot　marked　the　location　of　Stone　Bridge。　All　the　rest　of　that　world　was　seemingly　smooth；　undulating　sage；　with　no　ragged　lines　of　canyons　to　accentuate　its　wildness。

〃Bess；　we're　safewe're　free！〃　said　Venters。　〃We're　alone　on　the　sage。　We're　half　way　to　Sterling。〃

〃Ah！　I　wonder　how　it　is　with　Lassiter　and　Miss　Withersteen。〃

〃Never　fear；　Bess。　He'll　outwit　Tull。　He'll　get　away　and　hide　her　safely。　He　might　climb　into　Surprise　Valley；　but　I　don't　think　he'll　go　so　far。〃

〃Bern；　will　we　ever　find　any　place　like　our　beautiful　valley？〃

〃No。　But；　dear；　listen。　Well　go　back　some　day；　after　yearsten　years。　Then　we'll　be　forgotten。　And　our　valley　will　be　just　as　we　left　it。〃

〃What　if　Balancing　Rock　falls　and　closes　the　outlet　to　the　Pass？〃

〃I've　thought　of　that。　I'll　pack　in　ropes　and　ropes。　And　if　the　outlet's　closed　we'll　climb　up　the　cliffs　and　over　them　to　the　valley　and　go　down　on　rope　ladders。　It　could　be　done。　I　know　just　where　to　make　the　climb；　and　I'll　never　forget。〃

〃Oh　yes；　let　us　go　back！〃

〃It's　something　sweet　to　look　forward　to。　Bess；　it's　like　all　the　future　looks　to　me。〃

〃Call　meElizabeth；〃　she　said；　shyly。

〃Elizabeth　Erne！　It's　a　beautiful　name。　But　I'll　never　forget　Bess。　Do　you　knowhave　you　thought　that　very　soonby　this　time　to…morrowyou　will　be　Elizabeth　Venters？〃

So　they　rode　on　down　the　old　trail。　And　the　sun　sloped　to　the　west；　and　a　golden　sheen　lay　on　the　sage。　The　hours　sped　now；　the　afternoon　waned。　Often　they　rested　the　horses。　The　glisten　of　a　pool　of　water　in　a　hollow　caught　Venters's　eye；　and　here　he　unsaddled　the　blacks　and　let　them　roll　and　drink　and　browse。　When　he　and　Bess　rode　up　out　of　the　hollow　the　sun　was　low；　a　crimson　ball；　and　the　valley　seemed　veiled　in　purple　fire　and　smoke。　It　was　that　short　time　when　the　sun　appeared　to　rest　before　setting；　and　silence；　like　a　cloak　of　invisible　life；　lay　heavy　on　all　that　shimmering　world　of　sage。

They　watched　the　sun　begin　to　bury　its　red　curve　under　the　dark　horizon。

〃We'll　ride　on　till　late；〃　he　said。　〃Then　you　can　sleep　a　little；　while　I　watch　and　graze　the　horses。　And　we'll　ride　into　Sterling　early　to…morrow。　We'll　be　married！。。。We'll　be　in　time　to　catch　the　stage。　We'll　tie　Black　Star　and　Night　behindand　thenfor　a　country　not　wild　and　terrible　like　this！〃

〃Oh；　Bern！。。。But　look！　The　sun　is　setting　on　the　sagethe　last　time　for　us　till　we　dare　come　again　to　the　Utah　border。　Ten　years！　Oh；　Bern；　look；　so　you　will　never　forget！〃

Slumbering；　fading　purple　fire　burned　over　the　undulating　sage　ridges。　Long　streaks　and　bars　and　shafts　and　spears　fringed　the　far　western　slope。　Drifting；　golden　veils　mingled　with　low；　purple　shadows。　Colors　and　shades　changed　in　slow；　wondrous　transformation。

Suddenly　Venters　was　startled　by　a　low；　rumbling　roarso　low　that　it　was　like　the　roar　in　a　sea…shell。

〃Bess；　did　you　hear　anything？〃　he　whispered。

〃No。〃

〃Listen！。。。Maybe　I　only　imaginedAh！〃

Out　of　the　east　or　north　from　remote　distance；　breathed　an　infinitely　low；　continuously　long　sounddeep；　weird；　detonating；　thundering；　deadeningdying。



CHAPTER　XXIII。　THE　FALL　OF　BALANCING　ROCK

Through　tear…blurred　sight　Jane　Withersteen　watched　Venters　and　Elizabeth　Erne　and　the　black　racers　disappear　over　the　ridge　of　sage。

〃They're　gone！〃　said　Lassiter。　〃An'　they're　safe　now。　An'　there'll　never　be　a　day　of　their　comin'　happy　lives　but　what　they'll　remember　Jane　Withersteen　an'an'　Uncle　Jim！。。。I　reckon；　Jane；　we'd　better　be　on　our　way。〃

The　burros　obediently　wheeled　and　started　down　the　break　with　little　cautious　steps；　but　Lassiter　had　to　leash　the　whining　dogs　and　lead　them。　Jane　felt　herself　bound　in　a　feeling　that　was　neither　listlessness　nor　indifference；　yet　which　rendered　her　incapable　of　interest。　She　was　still　strong　in　body；　but　emotionally　tired。　That　hour　at　the　entrance　to　Deception　Pass　had　been　the　climax　of　her　sufferingthe　flood　of　her　wraththe　last　of　her　sacrificethe　supremity　of　her　loveand　the　attainment　of　peace。　She　thought　that　if　she　had　little　Fay　she　would　not　ask　any　more　of　life。

Like　an　automaton　she　followed　Lassiter　down　the　steep　trail　of　dust　and　bits　of　weathered　stone；　and　when　the　little　slides　moved　with　her　or　piled　around　her　knees　she　experienced　no　alarm。　Vague　relief　came　to　her　in　the　sense　of　being　enclosed　between　dark　stone　walls；　deep　hidden　from　the　glare　of　sun；　from　the　glistening　sage。　Lassiter　lengthened　the　stirrup　straps　on　one　of　the　burros　and　bade　her　mount　and　ride　close　to　him。　She　was　to　keep　the　burro　from　cracking　his　little　hard　hoofs　on　stones。　Then　she　was　riding　on　between　dark；　gleaming　walls。　There　were　quiet　and　rest　and　coolness　in　this　canyon。　She　noted　indifferently　that　they　passed　close　under　shady；　bulging　shelves　of　cliff；　through　patches　of　grass　and　sage　and　thicket　and　groves　of　slender　trees；　and　over　white；　pebbly　washes；　and　around　masses　of　broken　rock。　The　burros　trotted　tirelessly；　the　dogs；　once　more　free；　pattered　tirelessly；　and　Lassiter　led　on　with　never　a　stop；　and　at　every　open　place　he　looked　back。　The　shade　under　the　walls　gave　place　to　sunlight。　And　presently　they　came　to　a　dense　thicket　of　slender　trees；　through　which　they　passed　to　rich；　green　grass　and　water。　Here　Lassiter　rested　the　burros　for　a　little　while；　but　he　was　restless；　uneasy；　silent；　always　listening；　peering　under　the　trees。　She　dully　reflected　that　enemies　were　behind　thembefore　them；　still　the　thought　awakened　no　dread　or　concern　or　interest。

At　his　bidding　she　mounted　and　rode　on　close　to　the　heels　of　his　burro。　The　canyon　narrowed；　the　walls　lifted　their　rugged　rims　higher；　and　the　sun　shone　down　hot　from　the　center　of　the　blue　stream　of　sky　above。　Lassiter　traveled　slower；　with　more　exceeding　care　as　to　the　ground　he　chose；　and　he　kept　speaking　low　to　the　dogs。　They　were　now　hunting…dogskeen；　alert；　suspicious；　sniffing　the　warm　breeze。　The　monotony　of　the　yellow　walls　broke　in　change　of　color　and　smooth　surface；　and　the　rugged　outline　of　rims　grew　craggy。　Splits　appeared　in　deep　breaks；　and　gorges　running　at　right　angles；　and　then　the　Pass　opened　wide　at　a　junction　of　intersecting　canyons。

Lassiter　dismounted；　led　his　burro；　called　the　dogs　close；　and　proceeded　at　snail　pace　through　dark　masses　of　rock　and　dense　thickets　under　the　left　wall。　Long　he　watched　and　listened　before　venturing　to　cross　the　mouths　of　side　canyons。　At　length　he　halted；　fled　his　burro；　lifted　a　warning　hand　to　Jane；　and　then　slipped　away　among　the　boulders；　and；　followed　by　the　stealthy　dogs；　disappeared　from　sight。　The　time　he　remained　absent　was　neither　short　nor　long　to　Jane　Withersteen。

When　he　reached　her　side　again　he　was　pale；　and　his　lips　were　set　in　a　hard　line；　and　his　gray　eyes　glittered　coldly。　Bidding　her　dismount；　he　led　the　burros　into　a　covert　of　stones　and　cedars；　and　tied　them。

〃Jane；　I've　run　into　the　fellers　I've　been　lookin'　for；　an'　I'm　goin'　after　them；〃　he　said。

〃Why？〃　she　asked。

〃I　reckon　I　won't　take　time　to　tell　you。〃

〃Couldn't　we　slip　by　without　being　seen？〃

〃Likely　enough。　But　that　ain't　my　game。　An'　I'd　like　to　know；　in　case　I　don't　come　back；　what　you'll　do。〃

〃What　can　I　do？〃

〃I　reckon　you　can　go　back　to　Tull。　Or　stay　in　the　Pass　an'　be　taken　off　by　rustlers。　Which'll　you　do？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I　can't　think　very　well。　But　I　believe　I'd　rather　be　taken　off　by　rustlers。〃

Lassiter　sat　down；　put　his　head　in　his　hands；　and　remained　for　a　few　moments　in　what　appeared　to　be　deep　and　painful　thought。　When　he　lifted　his　face　it　was　haggard；　lined；　cold　as　sculptured　marble。

〃I'll　go。　I　only　mentioned　that　chance　of　my　not　comin'　back。　I'm　pretty　sure　to　come。〃

〃Need　you　risk　so　much？　Must　you　fight　more？　Haven't　you　shed　enough　blood？〃

〃I'd　like　to　tell　you　why　I'm　goin'；〃　he　continued；　in　coldness　he　had　seldom　used　to　her。　She　remarked　it；　but　it　was　the　same　to　her　as